Le Petit Bateau

I don’t necessarily have to be submerged in water to feel its curative effects. I simply must be near it or on it. And I am. And purely by chance, I work on the water, I live on the water and on occasion, I play on the water. A trifecta for good, clean, living.

This “Blue Mind” can always get lost in the sounds of waves lapping (throw in a fog horn playing harmony with each crash and it becomes a theatrical experience for me.) There is a really nice source of comfort that I find by actually staring at water – I can only describe it as if a silent piece of music, that is very pretty, and plays on repeat in the background of my mind allowing me to be totally alone with my thoughts. Whether I meditate about people, places or things, doesn’t even matter – its the getting out of my own head part that feels so good. I was always in the water, a competitive swimmer all through school and the only thing that made me lose my thoughts in the pool was a flip (turn.) I would have completed homework assignments, organized my closets, figured out weekend plans every 25 yards or so. And then, BAM!, I had to flip, turn around and start all over. But it was fun, and you knew it was coming, another lap another thought. By the end of practice, I felt like I accomplished more in the pool than I had the entire day. Whether I completed any of it, however, may be questionable. Thoughts are fleeting, right?

This summer I got a lot of time out on the water on the boat. The weather on the weekends in NY has been really nice, only a few unmentionably hot days in the mix. But floating, gliding, bumping and grinding along the Long Island Sound or the Hudson River trumps a hot spell on any day. I also pinch drive when I can. I am still learning the pitfalls of maneuvering a boat that I am unwilling to admit in mixed company that I am simply too short to be driving while sitting down. Anyhow, driving a boat, with the water spraying my hair into a sort of trendy wet look, sort of puts me into a meditative trance, no worries at all that a mega cruise ship is in sight or a buoy may have lost its markers or that anyone might be talking to me. I fall into a sort of a spell just being there, on the water that seems bigger than life around it – it is peaceful, serene and healthy. Driving or sitting or standing or doing anything on a boat is relaxing, invigorating, refreshing and good pure fun.

And as for the wardrobe, boat activewear is some of my very favorite pieces of clothing. I suggest a well thought out staple uniform of blue hues, stripe Le Petit Bateau shirts, Vineyard Vines shep shirts, any darn ball cap, worn khakis, Nantucket red chinos, sunnies, lots of hair ties and topsiders, Sperry, though, very specifically Sperry. These items/brands are all easy to wear, easy to wash and help you to fit in with the crowd. This style of sport clothing is classic Americana, (The Kennedy’s practically created the look, certainly defined it) the feel is cool and comfy (especially when its hot or when sunburnt) and the popular cotton/lycra blends seem to resist natural wearing and tearing a bit. It’s always a good idea to pack a few changes of clothing. My favorite part of boat clothes is that it simply does not matter if you get wet. In fact, that is the idea, isn’t it?

So, let the tide take you where it will, just please look good doing it!